Shloka 15

Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)

Devanagari script

वसामि फुल्लासु च पद्मिनीषु नक्षत्रवीथीषु च शारदीषु । गजेषु गोछ्ठेषु तथा55सनेषु सर:सु फुल्लोत्पलपड्कजेषु

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | vasāmi phullāsu ca padminīṣu nakṣatravīthīṣu ca śāradīṣu | gajeṣu goṣṭheṣu tathāsaneṣu saraḥsu phullotpalapaṅkajeṣu ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ମୁଁ ଫୁଲିଥିବା ପଦ୍ମରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପଦ୍ମିନୀମାନଙ୍କରେ, ଶରଦ୍‌ ଋତୁର ନିର୍ମଳ ଆକାଶର ନକ୍ଷତ୍ର-ବୀଥିମାନଙ୍କରେ, ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ହାତୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଓ ସୁସଂରକ୍ଷିତ ଗୋଶାଳାମାନଙ୍କରେ, ଉତ୍ତମ ଆସନମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଏବଂ ଫୁଲିଥିବା ନୀଳୋତ୍ପଳ ଓ ପଦ୍ମରେ ଶୋଭିତ ସରୋବରମାନଙ୍କରେ ସଦା ବାସ କରେ।

Word by Word

• वसामि: I dwell / reside
• वसामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तम, एकवचन

• फुल्लासु: in blooming (ones)
• फुल्लासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फुल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पद्मिनीषु: in lotus-ponds
• पद्मिनीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• नक्षत्रवीथीषु: in star-paths / rows of stars
• नक्षत्रवीथीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र-वीथी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शारदीषु: in autumnal (ones)
• शारदीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• गजेषु: in/among elephants
• गजेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• गोष्ठेषु: in cow-stalls / cattle-sheds
• गोष्ठेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• आसनेषु: on/in seats
• आसनेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• सरःसु: in lakes
• सरःसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• फुल्लोत्पलपङ्कजेषु: in (lakes) with blooming blue-lotuses and lotuses
• फुल्लोत्पलपङ्कजेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फुल्ल-उत्पल-पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• lotus-ponds (padminī)
• autumn sky / star-paths (nakṣatravīthī, śarad)
• elephants (gaja)
• cow-stalls (goṣṭha)
• seats/thrones (āsana)
• lakes/ponds (saras)
• blue lotus (utpala)
• lotus (paṅkaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A sacred, auspicious force is portrayed as residing where dharmic qualities manifest—cleanliness, harmony, prosperity, and serene beauty. The verse implies that ethical living and well-ordered spaces attract and sustain auspiciousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s discourse in the Anushasana Parva, he describes the abiding places of auspiciousness (or a revered presence), listing emblematic locations—lotus waters, autumn starry skies, elephants, cow-stalls, fine seats, and lotus-filled lakes—to teach what environments signify and support dharma.